EASYJET has announced six new routes from Edinburgh airport, with the creation of about 160 jobs.

The airline will fly to Berlin, Hamburg, Prague, Copenhagen, Reykjavik and Dubrovnik.

Two extra planes will serve the capital as part of the expansion, which will take the number of crafts to seven and boost the total number of easyJet routes to 30.

It is estimated a further 500 jobs could be created indirectly by the plans.

EasyJet said the new routes will bring in almost 140,000 more passengers, benefiting the economy by up to £90 million.

The airline's Scottish head Hugh Aitken said: "I'm confident our new 2013 schedule will really appeal to people travelling to and from Scotland, both on business and for leisure, and will further bolster Edinburgh's world-famous appeal for tourists."

VisitScotland has hailed the new routes and the German links in particular.

German visitors make up the biggest European tourism market to Scotland.

The first Airbus A319 is scheduled to arrive on December 2, with the second plane beginning operations in March next year.

The new routes start on March 21 next year, apart from Dubrovnik, which begins on April 27.

EasyJet carried more than 4.5 million passengers between its four Scottish airports - Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness - in the year to the end of June.

Edinburgh airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said: "Today's announcement is hugely exciting for Scottish aviation by relinking Edinburgh with Berlin and Reykjavik, and adding fantastic new destinations such as Hamburg and Prague.

"I'm sure these new routes will boost business and leisure travel to and from Scotland, underlining aviation's key role in our economy."

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the expansion represented a "major endorsement and vote of confidence" in Edinburgh and Scotland, and work was ongoing to deliver further direct routes.

"People from across the world are eagerly anticipating what Scotland has to offer, and with the likes of the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and Homecoming all fast approaching, I fully expect that level of interest to increase," said Ms Sturgeon.

"Attracting more direct flights to and from Scotland helps deliver cheaper fares for the public and reduces the need for extra connecting flights through London."